HorrorScience Fiction

Deadly Friend

- There's no one alive who'll play with the girl next door.

When tragedy strikes his remarkable robot and the beautiful girl next door, lonely teenage genius Paul tries to save them by pushing technology beyond its known limits into a terrifying new realm.

Release Date : 1986-10-10

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Pan ArtsLaytonWarner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Wes Craven's Deadly FriendArtificial IntelligenceA. I.

Cast

Character Name : Paul

Original Name : Matthew Labyorteaux

Gender : Male

Character Name : Samantha

Original Name : Kristy Swanson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tom

Original Name : Michael Sharrett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jeannie

Original Name : Anne Twomey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Elvira

Original Name : Anne Ramsey

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harry

Original Name : Richard Marcus

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Johanson

Original Name : Russ Marin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sgt. Volchek

Original Name : Lee Paul

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carl

Original Name : Andrew Roperto

Gender : Male

Character Name : BB (voice)

Original Name : Charles Fleischer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thief

Original Name : Robin Nuyen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angry resident

Original Name : Frank Cavestani

Gender : Male

Character Name : CAT scan technician

Original Name : Merritt Olsen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. in Sam's room

Original Name : William H. Faeth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Deputy

Original Name : Joel Hile

Gender : Male

Character Name : Neighbor

Original Name : Tom Spratley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Coroner

Original Name : Jim Ishida

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2022-08-15

**_Underwhelming Craven film that meshes sci-fi, teenage romance and horror_** A boy genius specializing in brain research and robotics (Matthew Laborteaux) moves to the town of Welling with his mother (Anne Twomey) where he starts an apprenticeship at the university. He befriends a paper boy and romances an abused neighbor girl (Michael Sharrett and Kristy Swanson respectively). When tragedy strikes, he uses his talents to rectify the situation with horrifying results. "Deadly Friend" (1986) was Wes Craven’s next theatrical project after the success of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984). It was meant to be a sci-fi thriller focusing on a dark teenage love story, but the trailer omitted BB the robot and advertised the movie as another Wes Craven horror flick. The film bombed at the box office. You might remember Laborteaux as Albert, the adopted Ingalls boy on Little House on the Prairie. Meanwhile Winsome Kristy was only 16 during shooting. These two and BB the cute robot give the film a likable innocent quality. In tone, it’s a cross between “Short Circuit” (1986) and “Silver Bullet” (1985) just with elements of the Frankenstein story thrown in. Speaking of which, this is a modern-day coming-of-age take on Frankenstein and zombie tales exploring the idea of a dead person being resurrected by unnatural means with unpleasant results. It raises questions concerning when physical death actually occurs. Interesting ideas, of course, but the execution is so-so and yet kind of agreeable, a puzzling mix. Craven is a hit-or-miss director IMHO. For instance, “Summer of Fear” (1978) is effective, but “The Serpent and the Rainbow” (1988) is mind-bogglingly bad. This one falls somewhere in between, but closer to the good. The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area as follows: Burbank Studios (Paul Conway's house), USC (university exteriors & lecture hall interiors) and Monrovia, which is just northeast of L.A. (Samantha on the loose). GRADE: B-/C+